When the editors of Conestoga High School’s student newspaper, The Spoke, traveled to the National School Press Association convention in San Antonio last month, they didn’t know what to expect.

By the time they left, their expectations had been exceeded, as The Spoke was awarded the Pacemaker, the highest honor given to high school papers.

“When they announced us, I actually jumped up and screamed,” Spoke Co-Editor in Chief Heather Ward said. “It was nice to know that all those late nights we’d put in, that someone else could see that and that we could make a difference.”

It was an honor that came after a bit of confusion and initial disappointment.

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“There was another paper called The Spark, and they were announced before us,” Spoke Managing Editor Jenna Spoont said. “When they called their name, we all jumped because we thought it was us. Then when they called us, we were all so happy. Everything we’d worked for, that was the pinnacle, and we owe it to all those who were here before who taught us.”

In addition to the Pacemaker, The Spoke also was recognized for two of its stories. “Revealing a Religion,” a piece on a group of CHS Mormon students by Kelly Benning and 2012 graduate K.C. McConnell, took third place in the National Diversity Story of the Year category. The staff’s “Occupy Philly” piece placed third in National Multimedia Story of the Year.

As part of the convention, the editors participated in informational seminars and competed in write-off competitions, where more awards were earned. They also mingled with some of the 4,500 attendees from all over the country.

“The coolest thing is interacting with all of the people who share the same passion as you, and who might be having the same difficulties, whether they’re from Kansas, California or wherever,” Ward said.

The Spoke’s 40 student participants, who meet as part of a class, produce seven issues per school year, with 24 pages filled with up to 30 stories. “Some days it can be difficult making sure every single reporter knows what they’re doing and that they aren’t having any trouble,” Spoke Co-Editor in Chief Haley Xue said. “For the most part we have good communication between reporters and editors, and we always let the reporters know they can come to us anytime.”

Xue said working for the paper is a catalyst for personal growth.

“When I started I was very shy and didn’t like the idea of interviewing people,” Xue said. “But I gained a lot of confidence and learned how to really communicate with people, and you see that most people are nice and want to be interviewed.”

The editors credit their faculty advisors, Cynthia Hyatt and Susan Houseman, for their success.

“They are amazing, and I’m very thankful we have them,” Xue said. “They’re there every step of the way, and they give us a great degree of freedom and help us when we need it.”

Ward and Xue said the Pacemaker has inspired the staff to work even harder, which Hyatt has seen first-hand.

“There’s been a lot more thoughtful story-idea generation, and they’re really trying to find out what’s going on in the world and community and trying to localize it,” Hyatt said. “They’ve had some really great stories, and they’re great writers and great kids.”